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On Aug. 10, 2021, God called His beloved Rufus “Allen” Strothers Sr. home to take his rest. He was born on April 10, 1941, in Nansemond County, to the late Beacher D. Strothers and the late Annie Rachel Whitfield Strothers. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Strothers, a daughter, Valerie Strothers, a son, Michael Strothers, one sister, Emilie Strothers Butler, and three brothers, William Simmons, Calvin “Leon” Strothers Sr., and Jackie Strothers.

He is survived by four sons, Rufus Allen Strothers Jr., Rodney Strothers, Keith Cunningham, and Thomas Jones, 12 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, one brother, Rutherford “Ulysses” Whitfield, three sisters, Cecile Cherry, Carolyn Johnson and Brenda Cofield, two sisters-in-law, Marlene Simmons and Glorine Strothers, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Allen attended Suffolk Public Schools, where he graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1960. His employers included Bradshaw Drug Store, Newport News Shipyard, and a long tenure at Norfolk Naval Base, where he retired after 43 years of service.

His longtime church membership included Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Portsmouth, where he served as the chairman of the Trustee Board for many years.

A public viewing will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in the Melvin J. Blowe Chapel. A celebration of life will be held at noon Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, in the Melvin J. Blowe Chapel of Crocker Funeral Home Inc. Mr. Strothers will be laid to rest in Carver Memorial Cemetery. Professional services with dignity have been entrusted to Crocker Funeral Home Inc.